Forum Discussion

BreckenFoster's avatar
BreckenFoster
Iron Contributor
Jun 13, 2025

Delete D:\Windows

Hi. I have my windows 11 on my C:\ drive which is on an onboard nvme card on the motherboard. When I tried to re-install windows, I had an SSD (D:\) drive connected. This caused windows to get confused and atempt to install windows on the D:\ drive. all the files are dated november 2023. I have tried to delete all these windows files but they seem to be protected. Is there a way to force this deletion? This is taking up 3.4G.

It is also causing problems with SyncBackFree which is trying to copy these files even though these folders are not in my backup list.

I also have a folder called Recovery which is protected. This is a home computer and I am the administrator obviously.

security

2 Replies

  • Frederickk's avatar
    Frederickk
    Bronze Contributor
    Jun 18, 2025

    If these files are related to Windows recovery or installation remnants, you might also consider formatting the drive if data loss isn't a concern.

  • JustinKing's avatar
    JustinKing
    Iron Contributor
    Jun 17, 2025

    If it’s the built-in recovery partition, it’s best not to delete it unless you’re replacing or reconfiguring your recovery options. If it’s a folder on your drive, the same permissions steps apply.